Jose Mourinho’s passion for football and relentless pursuit of victory were on full display Sunday as his Fenerbahce side clinched a 3-2 win over Trabzonspor in a dramatic finish that saw Sofyan Amrabat score a 102nd-minute winner.
The former Chelsea, Manchester United, and Tottenham manager’s response was immediate—sprinting onto the pitch in celebration before attempting a classic knee slide.
However, behind the dramatic victory was Mourinho’s deep frustration with Turkish refereeing standards, particularly regarding the role of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in the match.
The thrilling encounter saw Trabzonspor awarded two penalties after lengthy VAR consultations, which Mourinho argued were questionable.
He was left further frustrated when VAR officials failed to award a penalty to Fenerbahce in a critical moment leading up to Amrabat’s winning goal.
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In a heated post-match interview with broadcaster beIN Sports, Mourinho did not hold back, openly questioning the decisions of referee Oguzhan Cakir and VAR official Atilla Karaoglan.
“I blame the Fenerbahce people that brought me here,”
“They told me only half of the truth. They didn’t tell me the whole truth because if they told me the whole truth, I wouldn’t come.”
His pointed remarks underline his belief that Turkish football may present unexpected challenges, particularly with respect to officiating standards.
The 61-year-old manager expressed his anger at VAR official Karaoglan, claiming that while he was quick to confirm Trabzonspor’s penalties, he seemingly ignored Fenerbahce’s appeal for a spot-kick.
“He [Karaoglan] was alert to give the two penalty decisions which the referee didn’t give, and then he was having Turkish tea when it was a clear penalty for us, and he didn’t give it,” said Mourinho.
His sarcasm highlighted his discontent with what he viewed as inconsistency in the application of VAR, a sentiment likely echoed by Fenerbahce supporters.
Mourinho’s dissatisfaction did not end there. He went on to mock the roles of those in charge, saying,
“The man of the match was Atilla Karaoglan.
We didn’t see him, but he was the referee.
The referee was just a little boy that was there on the pitch, but the referee was Atilla Karaoglan.
He goes from the invisible man to the most important man in the match.”
With Fenerbahce now five points behind league leaders Galatasaray, the stakes are higher than ever.
Mourinho, known for his strong character and vocal opinions, has now taken a stand against the officiating standards he has encountered in Turkey.
“I think I am speaking on behalf of every Fenerbahce fan – we don’t want him again.
We don’t want him as a VAR. We don’t want him on the pitch, but on the VAR, even less,”
he stated, making it clear he would prefer not to encounter Karaoglan’s influence in future matches.
As Mourinho’s tenure in Turkey progresses, his outspoken approach to perceived injustices will undoubtedly make waves in Turkish football.
